Information terminal device provided with turning function-carrying camera

• US 20040023684A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Noriyoshi, Masutani, Yutaka, Yoda, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

In an information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function, the object of the invention is to impart a predetermined torque to a camera so as to render the camera easily rotatable by the force of a finger in a desired direction and to continue its state of standstill when the rotation is stopped.

An information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function in accordance with the invention comprises: a camera unit including a cylindrical member 62 having a shaft portion 62C at one end thereof and for accommodating a camera therein, and an annular member 72 which is fitted over the shaft portion 62C; a main body portion 1 having a bearing portion 42 for holding the annular member 72 and for rotatably supporting the camera unit; and an elastic member 74 provided between the main body portion 1 and the cylindrical member 72, wherein the elastic member 74 is arranged to impart a direction-of-axis force in an axial direction of the camera unit while moving together with the rotation of the camera unit.

Claims

1. An information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function, comprising:

an imaging unit including;

a cylindrical camera unit rotatably supported by a main body portion of said information terminal apparatus;

direction-of-axis force imparting means formed of an elastic member for imparting a direction-of-axis force in a thrusting direction of said camera unit; and

means for preventing the occurrence of torsional stress for preventing the occurrence of torsional stress in said direction-of-axis force imparting means.

3. The information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said elastic member is interposed between said camera unit and said main body portion of said information terminal apparatus.

4. The information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said elastic member is formed of a rubber member and is provided in such a manner as to be compressed in the thrusting direction of said camera unit.

2. An information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function, comprising:

a camera unit including a cylindrical member having a shaft portion at one end thereof and for accommodating a camera therein, and an annular member which is fitted over said shaft portion;

a main body portion of said information terminal apparatus including a bearing portion for holding said annular member and for rotatably supporting said camera unit; and

an elastic member provided between said main body portion and said cylindrical member so as to impart a direction-of-axis force in a thrusting direction of said camera unit,

wherein said elastic member is provided so as to rotate together with the rotation of said camera unit.